Perez Hilton's Miami homecoming has been filled with challenge and crisis
Published in Entertainment News
MIAMI — Celebrity tracker Perez Hilton moved back home to Miami several weeks ago. But he has faced a trail of troubles.
Hilton rose to fame in the 2000s through his gossip website, and had been living in Las Vegas for a little over three years with his mother, helping to raise his family.
In late June, Hilton told his 600,000 plus followers the “holy spirit” guided him back to Miami after a major health scare that began in March.
Now, he appears to be in another crisis.
The self-proclaimed Queen of All Media was hospitalized after livestreaming himself in the midst of serious self-harm. Viewers who watched the TikTok Live called 911 just after 7 p.m., police say.
As viewers told him to stop, he mumbled: “I’m doing this for my kids” and “This is what you wanted.”
At one point, Hilton appears to realize the severity of the situation: “I’m surprised TikTok is allowing this to stay on.” The platform did eventually shut him down after about 30 minutes.
Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responded to Hilton’s Westchester home, along with a Crisis Response Unit. Hilton, who has three kids ages 8, 11 and 13, via surrogate, was alone, authorities said.
Deputies “tactically disengaged,” meaning they opted to use de-escalation tactics rather than rush the home.
“In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication. Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilizing crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimize the risk of injury to the individual, deputies, and the public,” the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to the Miami Herald.
The celebrity blogger born Mario Lavandeira Jr. was “safely recovered” and taken by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue via ambulance to a nearby hospital.
Earlier this year, the “My Life in Scandal” author was hospitalized for 21 days in Sin City battling sepsis that was triggered by a bout with the flu and a perforated stomach ulcer. A blood-clot complication also followed.
“Nearly dying this year twice ... you never think it’s going to happen. It was just so hard,” he said of his reason to relocate. “Thank you, God for guiding me back to Florida where my family needs to be.”
In his first days back in the old neighborhood, the Belen Jesuit alum seemed to be adjusting well. One of of his first official calls of duty was visiting Little Havana landmark Cafe Versailles for a signature pastelito pastry, Materva soda and medianoche sandwich.
“I’m so excited for this new chapter in our lives,” the NYU grad said, adding he hadn’t been a 305 resident since he was 18.
By the same token, the former Angeleno explained to his “fram” in a lengthy YouTube video he had some misgivings about living in the Magic City again despite still having family and friends there.
“I got out of there as quickly as I could because I had so much trauma associated with my time in Miami,” he confessed in the 20-minute clip.
Among the “not nice things” that occurred in the summer between sophomore and junior year of high school: First tragedy: His grandfather — his “second dad” who lived with them growing up in “multi-generational” Latino household” — died. A week later, a second tragedy: Hilton’s father, Mario Lavandeira Sr., passed unexpectedly at age 52 of an aneurysm.
Because his godmother had taken him to Pensacola Beach to take his mind off of his grandfather, Hilton recalled that he wasn’t in town when his father, who didn’t know he was gay, passed.
“I didn’t get to say goodbye,” he recalled. “It was a sad time.”
With the help of “God giving him clarity” and recent, “healing conversations” with his mother years later, Hilton said he was finally able to properly grieve his father and realized that he would have accepted his sexuality no matter what. As a teen, he wasn’t out, and said he spent several years not feeling “seen or accepted” at his all-boys school.
Hilton’s current state of mind was compounded by financial problems. Before the cross-country move Hilton had been complaining about his astronomical hospital bills, even with insurance.
“That’s why your boy is in hustle mode,” he told his 939,000 plus followers in attempt to hawk religious merch while wearing a large cross.
Whether anyone bought stuff from him or not, fans are concerned. Though his TikTok has been taken down, Hilton’s Instagram remains active. His most recent post, which was pre-scheduled to go up around midnight, was about the sudden death of van-life personality Joe Felz.
Well-wishers flooded the comments section.
“Perez, you are so loved,” wrote one sympathetic person. “I’ve been following you since day one. I’m so sorry you reached this point. Please know you have so many people rooting for you. This will not define you. You will overcome this and whether publicly or not, I pray you take the time to heal you. You owe us absolutely nothing. Get better for your babies.”
On Tuesday, the Internet pioneer’s family and team thanked fans for their concern.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers,” read a statement on his eponymous website. “We can confirm that Perez is receiving medical care, and our family’s focus right now is on his well-being. We kindly ask that you respect Perez’s privacy, as well as the privacy of his family, during this difficult time.”
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If you or someone you know is thinking about self harm, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). It’s available 24/7.
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